Folding table



IIIIIIIIII T. W. ANDERSEN FOLDING TABLE Filed Feb. 28, 1931 June 12, 1934.

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l/U Theodore W @i and satisfactorily steady folding table.

Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES FOLDING TABLE Theodore W. Andersen,

Kenosha, Wis., assigner to Simmons Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1931,` Serial No. 519,027

5 Claims.

This invention relatesto folding tables, for example, folding card tables, and it relates more particularly to an improvementA in folding-leg locks for metal tables of the type referred to.

The main object of the invention is to provide a folding-leg locking structure whereby the leg is securely locked in its operative or extended position so .as to be capable of rigidly supporting the table tcp, thereby to provide a practicable Other objects of the invention are: To provide a-sirnple, inexpensive and easily operable locking arrangement for locking the leg in both extended and folded positions, and to provide such a structure which will be du-rable and not likely to get out of order.

Other objects and advantages will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing in which a portion of a card table embodying the improved folding-leg structure is illustrated.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan, a certain .portion being broken away and shownin section to more clearlyillustrate the structure, and

Figs. 2 andl 3 are sections on the linesV 2-2 and 3-3, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the selected structure illustrated includes a metallic side .3o frame .5 which extends around the periphery of the table and includes a web portion 6 and upper and lower channel formations 7 and 8. A table op 9 of any suitable construction, for example, laminated wood, is supported by the side` frame 5 and is secured thereto by having a marginal edge portion, such as indicated at 10, seated in the upper channel formation 7. The upper and lower channel formations 7 and 8 serve to stiften the side ,frame element so that the saine may be made of comparatively light Weight sheet or strip metal, if desired, while, at the same time, producing a comparatively rigid structure. As indicated inl Fig. 1, the side frame 5 is continuous yaround the table and is bent to form round cor-` ners. The ends of the side frame may be joined in any suitable manner at any desired location around the table. The table top 9 may, of course, be provided with any desired covering, either padded or otherwise, but inasmuch as the present invention is not concerned therewith, no such covering is illustrated.

At each corner of the table, a folding leg is provided, each such leg being preferably of tubular metal construction. In this instance, the leg is designated 11 and is of tubular metal construction, the upper end' portion of the leg being re` inforced by means of a sleeve 12 which fits telescopically into the leg 11, the sleeve being preferably a snug nt in the leg. The leg is pivotally connected to the table top so as to be foldable from an extended or operative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, to folded position under the table top 9 and within the width of the side frame 5, as shown in broken lines in said Fig. 2.

For so connecting the leg tothe table top, I provide a bracket 13 which includes opposite sides 14 and 15 which are integrally connected by a web 16 at their upper ends. The bracket is secured to theside frame of the table by means of wings or flanges 17 and 18 which extend respectively 7()V from the bracket sides 14 and 15, the said wings being secured in any vsuitable manner, for eX- ample, by riveting, `as indicated at 19.

The upper end of theleg is disposed between the sides 14 and 15 of the bracket and is secured 75 thereto by means of a pivot pin 20 which extends through the opposite bracket sides and through the interposed leg, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The pivot pin 20 may conveniently be in the form of a .screw having a pointed and threaded end 3 0 21 and a head 22 at its other end providedwith a screw driver slot whereby the pivot pin may con-v veniently and quickly be driven into place. The pointed front end of the pivot screw serves -to facilitate introduction of the screw into the ree5 spective openings through which it must pass, and the screw structure is such that it may be economically and cheaply made, while at the same time' being highly effective for` its designated purpose. Any suitable form of locking means, such as a lock washer 22a, may be provided for preventing turning of the pivot screw 20 as an incident to swinging movement of the leg 11.

For locking the leg in its extended position, the Y bracket sides 14 and 15 are provided with notches 95 'designated 14a and 15a, respectively, which are designed to receive a locking pin 23 which is carried by the leg 11. The locking pin 23 extends sub'- stantially diametrically through the leg,. the

latter being provided with elongated slots 24 and 100 25, which slots also extend through the reinforcing sleeve 12. A compression spring 26, seated at its inner end on an inturnedend portion 12a of the sleeve 12, and bearing at its outer end against the locking pin 23, serves to normally urge the pin 23 into engagement with the edges of the bracket sides and into the locking notches 14a and 15a, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3.

The locking pin or bar 23 may, of course, be 11j() disengaged from the locking notches merely by grasping the pin at its opposite ends and forcing it downwardly against the pressure of the spring 26. However, such disengagement would be somewhat difficult to effect, and hence I provide a lever arrangement which facilitates manual disengagement of the locking pin from the said notches. The lever arrangement herein depicted includes an elongated plate-like arm part 27 which is provided at its opposite sides with suitable anges 28 and 29 for stifening purposes, the upper end of the arm 27 being, in effect, bifurcated so as to provide a pair of laterally extending arms 30 and 31 designed to embrace the opposite sides of the bracket 13 and to receive the opposite ends of the locking pin 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be understood from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 that the arms 30 and 3l of the lever are apertured to receive the locking pin, and that the opposite ends thereof are headed over to prevent endwise displacement of the pin. This arrangement of the pin also serves to prevent spreading of the bracket arms, with the result of increased rigidity in the structure as a whole.

rfhe outer end of the lever arm 27 is provided with a sidewise projection 32, which is adapted to be conveniently engaged with the thumb when the leg is grasped with the hand for folding the leg from extended to folded position. In effecting such folding movement, the lower end of the lever arm 27 is forced outwardly about the fulcrum formed at the upper end of the arm where the same engages the edges of 'the respective bracket sides, as indicated at 33. Such outward movement of the lower end cf the lever arm obviously results in downward movement of the arm portions 30 and 31 and of the locking pin 23 against the pressure of the spring 26. When the pin 23 is moved out of the locking notches 11iEL and 15a, the leg may, of course, be swung to its folded position. As indicated in Fig. 2, the opposite bracket sides may also be provided with comparatively shallow notches 34 for receiving the locking pin to lock the leg in folded position. I prefer that the notches 34. be comparatively shallow and formed with an inclined edge 35 so that the leg may be swung from its folded position to its extended position without manually disengaging the pin from the said notches. The inclined portion 35 of the shallow notch serves in the nature of a cam to effect outward or downward movement of the locking pin against the force of the spring 26.

I am aware that changes may be made in the above described construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding table, the combination of a table top, a leg connected to said table top for folding movement, a spring-actuated device movable longitudinally of the leg for locking the leg in extended position, and lever means depending from said 'device and movable transversely of the leg for disengaging said locking device.

2. In a folding table, the combination of artable top, a bracket secured to said table top, a leg pivotally connected to said bracket, means carried by said leg for engaging a portion of said bracket to lock the leg in extended position, and a lever device for disengaging said locking means, said lever having fulcrum engagement with said bracket and being adapted to be rocked on said fulcrum for effecting disengagement of said locking means.

3. In a folding table of the class described, the combination of a table top, a bracket connected to said top and having a pair of substantially parallel, spaced arms, each provided with a notch, a hollow leg member for supporting said top, said leg member having its upper end portion disposed between said arms and pivoted to said bracket on a horizontal axis spaced from said notches and having elongated slots extending lengthwise of the leg in oppositely disposed wall portions thereof adjacent said notches, a horizontal locking bar extending through and fitting said elongated slots, said bar having its ends projecting from opposite sides of the leg so as to be capable of entering said notches, a spring disposed in the hollow of the leg for yieldingly forcing said locking bar lengthwise of the leg so as to cause said ends to enter said notches, thereby to maintain the leg in fixed position relative to the bracket and table top, and lever means for facilitating manual disengagement of said locking bar from said notches to permit the leg to be swung to folded position.

4. In a folding table of the class described, the combination of a table top, a bracket connected to said top and having a pair of substantiaiiy parallel, spaced arms, each provided with a notch, a hollow leg member for supporting said top, said leg member having its upper end portion disposed between said arms and pivoted to said bracket on a horizontal axis spaced from said notches and having elongated slots extending lengthwise of the leg in oppositely disposed wall portions thereof adjacent said notches, a horizontal locking bar extending through and fitting said elongated slots, said bar having its ends projecting from opposite sides of the leg so as to be capable of entering said notches, a spring disposed in the hollow of the leg for yieldingly forcing said locking bar lengthwise of the leg so as to cause said ends to enter said notches, thereby to maintain the leg in fixed position relative to the bracket and table top, and a lever fulcrumed on the edges of said bracket arms and secured to said locking bar for facilitating manual disengagement of said locking bar from said notches to permit the leg to be swung to folded position.

5. In a folding tabie, the combination of a table top, a bracket carried by said top, a leg pivotally connected to said bracket so as to be foldable from extended position to folded position substantially parallel with said table top, means carried by said leg for engaging a portion of said bracket to lock the leg in extended position, and a lever carried by the leg and movable in a direction substantially parallel with the folding movement of the leg, said lever being arranged relative to the leg so as to be operable with one hand to disengage said leg locking means simultaneously with the application of the hand to the leg for effecting folding movement thereof.

THEODORE W. ANDERSEN'. 

